Daily Republican., 1887-08-19
Edna S Ambition.
BY ouINEvnRE.

BY euINEvERz.
"Oh, Eius, rou look loveiier than
over tonight! 1 wish Keith could see
you"
"Keith-pshaw! He always admires
me. Am attired tonight for the pleas.
ure Of moro critical persons than Mr..
Keith Lowell"
"I suppose you mean Aunt Barbara
and old Mr.. Gray son."
Ruthie spoke this last rather CON-
temptuously, bat the pretty blonde be.
fore the mirror only shrugged her white
shoulders and smiled carelessly.
Edna Morris WAS very fair, Of type
called the Spanish bloDde, with ivory
tinted skin, and languid, dark.brown
eyes, and . glorious, ripping mass Of
golden hair.
Her stately form Was draped in
creamy surah, with veilings Of lace and
clusters Of deep red roses.
SIT WAS very kind Of Aunt Barbara
to permit me TO choose my own cos
tume," she sid, turning about for .
last survey. "Her taste IL execYable.
Where's my fan, Ruthie? Oh, look
here !"
As Ruthie stepped out to give her the
feathered ornament, her form WAS re
fiectsd In the mirror, and with . light
laugh. Edna drew her attention to the
picture they made side bv side; the
proud beauty, with her shimmsring
robes and snowy shou lders, and the
little figure In the plain wooden gown.
As Ruthie looked up, her eyes grew
dim. and her sensitive lips quivsred.
"Theie Q, never mind" said Edna,
"'Fins feathers make fne BIRDS you
know, and though you are plain little
body, you'd look very we'll In . dress
like this. Wait till I'm married, dear,
and yon shall have dozen such
"When Keith makes Q fortune, I
suppose, said Ruthie.
"Always Kstth!' exclaimed the
blonde, with = pout. "Why he's as poor
as o church mouse, and you know my
| ambition Is to be o rich woman; q
wealthy mans bride, since nature has
denied me any fortune but pretty
face. There, how serious you look
We'll, I must go-the carriage has been
| waiting fully twenty minutes"
And gathering up her surah draperiet
she swept out of the bare little room,
and Ruthie, left to herself, began &c
wonder why she had not been beautiful
too.
'.LIfs is easier for beautiful women
she thought, picking up rose that hat
been left, aod fastening 1t In her dusky
braids. '.Every body sdmires and love-
them. and they get all the favors. Blu
wish Edna would not talk as sh
doss-I know she loves Keith and h'
adores her, and yet"
| A heavy rap on the outside doc
startled her, and she had Just time Il
reach tbs threshold of the adjoluin
room, when q young man, with hand
some, sunny face burst In unceremoni
ously, and threw himself int) one o
the easy chairs.
"Oh, K.ith, Is 1t you?" said Ruthie
I"Why, what has happened-your eye
are like stars?''
"a pretty simile," said Keith smi
ling. IT have news-out where
lEins?"
reception.
"Oh, I forgot" replied the youn
man, as his oountene euce fell. $50 r.
have to wait three or four hours bsfor
oau see her,"
"I'm cory; II ycu had come soonel
she has been gone but . short time an
l-Oh, Keith! she looked beautiful"
''She always does," said Keith fer
entity. "And 1t ia to her beauty I ow
imuch Of my good luck. You remembs
Jmy last patnting?"
"'The Musicians,' yes." said Ruthi
: I''The lady OF high degree In her siikel
hung window, with the roselight on hi
Iface, and o mandolin in her jewele
Hands. She has just ceased play in
= and looks dreamily out over the cavsr
balcony at young violinist In Il
1, streer, poor lad 10 tattered garment
1.-THE lady has e ina's face, and the POI
i boy bears n striking rtsem blAnos
Miss Ruth Morris. But you never 90
me look sad like that"
"True, but .yoa could II you We
Istarved and weary. Well, nv piotu
has been admitted to the Academy, al
1.-The critics have given 1t fiattering motto
I received this letter to day from q
Ifather's cousin, Hubert Ayres. He
livery wealthy. and overlooking the ia
|. THAT am the son OF man he hate
d he praises my latest achievement. d
u puts it In my power to reach the pi
Il nacle of fame, providing my genius
1, su fl cieut to stand the test"
le "You mean he has offered to al
lyon part Of his fortune?" cried Ruth
a' "Well, not qaite that, but my stru
giles with that Raunt enemy, povert
j., lare over. / am his prOtsae, 30
as speak, and we are gong abroad
ys eether."
"And Edns?" asked Ruthie, iuvolu
:. ltari,y, then she flushed slightly.
"She shall 60, too. II she will" 50
u Keith frankly. ''Ehe is my inspi
tion.'
Ruthie, with her head OH her har
looked thoughtful. What would
be to her with Keith and E Ina away
q lonely, dreary existence. The tel
rose to her eyes, but she brushed tn
aside unseen.
III The evening passed, and Keith
~ there talking Of his bright plans
hopes. little dreaming that the
Iopposlte with her syWpathetic Q!
z. was euiferi"g In silence. But tn
". lcsme . time when he knew oil. q
a, lwondered how he could have been
Ne blind.
The hour of twelve rang out, q
then Ruthie's quick ear caught .
milisr sound
. "There's Edna" she said.
- Impelled by the spirit OF misoh
-. lKeith lowered the light and darted
a. hind the screen just as the door opel
70 and Rdna trailed her shining robes
~ Throwing . rose at her sister Wiz
merry laugh.